This study is focused on the utilization of naturally
occurring
salicylic acid and nicotinamide (vitamin B3) in the development
of novel sustainable Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) with
significant potential for treating acne vulgaris. The study highlights
how the chemical structure of the cation significantly influences
surface activity, lipophilicity, and solubility in aqueous media.
Furthermore, the new ionic forms of APIs, the synthesis of which was
assessed with Green Chemistry metrics, exhibited
very good antibacterial properties against common pathogens that contribute
to the development of acne, resulting in remarkable enhancement of
biological activity ranging from 200 to as much as 2000 times when
compared to salicylic acid alone. The molecular docking studies also
revealed the excellent anti-inflammatory activity of N-alkylnicotinamide salicylates comparable to commonly used drugs
(indomethacin, ibuprofen, and acetylsalicylic acid) and were even
characterized by better IC50 values than common anti-inflammatory
drugs in some cases. The derivative, featuring a decyl substituent
in the pyridinium ring of nicotinamide, exhibited efficacy against Cutibacterium acnes while displaying favorable water
solubility and improved wettability on hydrophobic surfaces, marking
it as particularly promising. To investigate the impact of the APIs
on the biosphere, the EC50 parameter was determined against
a model representative of crustaceansArtemia
franciscana. The majority of compounds (with the exception
of the salt containing the dodecyl substituent) could be classified
as “Relatively Harmless” or “Practically Nontoxic”,
indicating their potential low environmental impact, which is essential
in the context of modern drug development.